Leading actresses star in Priyanka, Freida film for girl child

Actresses Nandita Das, Madhuri Dixit, Sushmita Sen, Alia Bhatt, Parineeti Chopra and Kareena Kapoor are featuring in film "Girl Rising - Woh Padhegi, Woh Udegi", produced by actresses Priyanka Chopra and Freida Pinto, who are also the brand ambassadors of the initiative, and will also star in it.

Mumbai: Actresses Nandita Das, Madhuri Dixit, Sushmita Sen, Alia Bhatt, Parineeti Chopra and Kareena Kapoor are featuring in film "Girl Rising - Woh Padhegi, Woh Udegi", produced by actresses Priyanka Chopra and Freida Pinto, who are also the brand ambassadors of the initiative, and will also star in it.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has pitched in with the narration.

The Hindi version of the film is all set to air on Star Plus at 1.30 p.m. on August 29 on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. The film is a collaboration between the government's 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' campaign and Star TV. It will also be released on digital platforms in both Hindi and English.

"Woh Padegi, Woh Udegi... it's what I've truly believed in and it's a motto shared by every one of the amazing women who have joined me on this journey for Girl Rising. We've all come together to narrate real life stories that highlight the amazing, positive impact that education can have on young girls. We believe that storytelling is a powerful way to inspire people and also to empower them to take action," said Priyanka.

Frieda said that "there couldn't be a more appropriate day to bring to every Indian a movement that is so crucial in changing the way we perceive the role of girls and raise our boys in our country.

"As a producer of Girl Rising India, I was very honoured to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June to talk about Girl Rising and he not only embraced the idea but also suggested that we launch it on Raksha Bandhan," she added.

Union Women and Child Development minister Maneka Gandhi said she was "very happy about the collaboration between the ministry's 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' campaign and Girl Rising".

"The child sex ratio in India is a matter of concern for all of us. Time has come to initiate more interventions and consolidate our efforts to secure the future of our girls," she added.

Star India CEO Uday Shankar said: "On this Raksha Bandhan, Star Plus will be presenting Girl Rising - Woh Padegi, Woh Udegi, a ground-breaking film designed to inspire a billion imaginations. We believe that the happiness of a nation depends on how we treat our daughters."

The film in English, directed by Academy Award nominee Richard E. Robbins, had released in 2013 and showcases the stories of eight resilient girls from different countries who battled obstacles to achieve their dreams.